We had about made up our minds to trek for three or four days in an easterly direction; the natives reported an abundance of game there, and their report was confirmed by some of our own people, whom we sent out on a scouting-expedition. They saw several herds of elephants and buffaloes; and as for the divers members of the antelope family, they answered the Irishman's description of the absentee landlords of Ireland: "The country was full of 'em." The question was not fully decided, but was to be at the next meeting of our friends and ourselves.
On the morning of the day when we were to take luncheon together and decide the question, the after-rider of the ladies' expedition came into our camp in great haste with a note, which he brought to me. It was addressed to all three of us by our surnames only, and had evidently been written in great haste. It said, briefly:
"Please come immediately, and bring your Winchesters. We are in peril."
The only signature to the letter was that of Mrs. Roberts. Needless to say, "there was mounting in hot haste," to use the words of Byron, and we went off at a brisk canter in the direction of our friends.
As we neared their camp we saw that it was surrounded by two or three hundred negroes, armed with spears and equipped with shields. Our hearts rose in our mouths, as we feared that our fair friends were prisoners in the hands of the natives.
"What shall we do," said Jack—"ride up slowly and parley with them, or send in our after-rider [who accompanied us] and find out what the trouble is?"
"No," I answered, "we'll ride right in among them, straight up to the wagon and the tent. We'll find out from those who can best tell us."
"Yes, that's the best way," said Harry; "no use parleying with these fellows, or they'll think we're afraid of them."
We rode right on to the kraal, straight up to the wagon and the tent. The natives pushed up against us, and we pushed them vigorously aside, dismounting instantly and giving the reins of our horses to the after-rider. It is proper to say that he was well armed and ready for his share of the fighting in case any occurred.
The manager of the camp came out as we dismounted, pushing his way with some difficulty through the crowd. As I caught sight of him I said: